I. What Is Philosophy? In the given quote‚ Socrates is defending himself in court against Meletus’ claim that he believes in false Gods‚ and he is giving his opinion on the meaning of life. He says that a docile life – one without speculation and reason – is not worth living. He explains that he will not live in exile because it is God’s will that he be a gadfly‚ and that he will not keep quiet because enlightenment is his meaning in life. He explains to the jury that he is like a gadfly and
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Epistemology ------------------------------------------------- Carefully explain Descartes’ cogito and his attempt to build his knowledge structure from the ground up. (Be as succinct as possible.) Does Descartes succeed or fail in that attempt? Justify your answer in full. Descartes’ Epistemology This essay attempts to explain Descartes’ epistemology of his knowledge‚ his “Cogito‚ Ergo Sum” concept (found in the Meditations)‚ and why he used it [the cogito concept] as a foundation when building
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and Death of Socrates takes place during a time in Socrates life where he becomes most reflective. During these final moments of Socrates life a theme arises‚ that of the unexamined life. Socrates claims that “the unexamined life is not worth living” (Apology 38a). Profound as the statement may seem it creates many questions; what is the unexamined life? And why is the idea of an examined life so dear to Socrates? It ’s clear throughout the dialogues of The Trial and Death of Socrates has a sort of
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While the great philosophical distinction between mind and body in western thought can be traced to the Greeks‚ it is to the seminal work of René Descartes (1596-1650)‚ French mathematician‚ philosopher‚ and physiologist‚ that we owe the first systematic account of the mind/body relationship (Wozniak). As a key figure in the Scientific Revolution‚ Rene Descartes was one of the most intelligent men in his era. With his numerous writings and works‚ he allowed us to understand modern philosophy‚ the human
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The Trial and Death Of Socrates Socrates was charged and had many accusations against him by three men. Meletus whom was the principle accuser‚ Anytus the power behind the prosectution‚ and Lycon the third accuser. During the first three hours of trial‚ Meletus and the other two accusers each mounted a small stage in the law court in the center of Athens to deliver speeches to the jury making the case for the guilt of Socrates. Meletus‚ the youngest of the three accusers made two related
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An apology From Socrates An Apology From Socrates’ The Apology is Socrates’ defense at his trial. As the dialogue begins‚ Socrates notes that his accusers have cautioned the jury against Socrates’eloquence‚ according to Socrates‚ the difference between him and his accusers is that Socrates speaks the truth. Socrates distinguished two groups of accusers: the earlier and the later accusers. The earlier group is the hardest to defend against‚ since they do not appear in court. He is all so accused
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Rene Descartes Rene Descartes was born March 31‚ 1596 in La Haye‚ Touraine. Descartes was the son of a minor nobleman and belonged to a family that had produced a number of learned men. At the age of eight‚ he was enrolled in the Jesuit school of La Fleche in Anjou‚ where he remained for eight years. Besides the usual classical studies‚ he received instruction in math and in Scholastic philosophy. Roman Catholicism exerted a strong influence on Descartes throughout his life. Upon graduation
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Why does Socrates think that the unexamined life is not worth living? Does he have a good defense of his philosophical life? As the wisest man in all of ancient Greece‚ Socrates believed that the purpose of life was both personal and spiritual growth. He establishes this conviction in what is arguably his most renowned statement: "The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates makes it quite evident through the severity of the language in this claim‚ the extent to which he will live
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drastically different portrayal of the philosopher Socrates than one would inside the pages of the Republic. In the play‚ Socrates is completely unaware of his surroundings‚ and is able to justify purposely making just actions stronger than just actions. The main character‚ Strepsiades‚ initially seeks the help of Socrates because he knows Socrates will provide him with the skills to avoid paying back his debts to the city. Even though Plato’s Socrates in The Republic would probably not agree‚ the philosophic
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Rene Descartes was a rationalist‚ meaning he thought that reason alone‚ not sensation or experience‚ was the source to attaining knowledge about the eternal truths of the universe‚ such as mathematics‚ epistemology‚ metaphysics and the existence of God. He excluded physics from this list‚ admitting that knowledge of physics only comes through experience (Descartes). Regardless‚ his rationalistic epistemology made it so that Descartes could only accept the truth about something if it was based upon
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